Johor to supply water to Singapore despite shortage

Water pipes run the length of the causeway between Singapore and Johor Bahru.

PHOTO: Reuters

KOTA TINGGI: Johor has assured Singapore that it will continue to supply water to the republic despite the state facing a water shortage.

State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said Johor would respect the agreement signed between Malaysia and the island republic in 1962.

"Under the agreement, we have to supply 250 million gallons of water at three cents per litre to Singapore daily.

"Even though the selling price does not make sense given the current environment, it is stipulated under the agreement," he said at Kejora's entrepreneurship carnival and human capita expo at Bandar Penawar here yesterday.

He said the agreement would last 100 years until 2061.

Hasni said several quarters had urged the state government to stop supplying water to Singapore due to the current water shortage.

"The first 50 years of the agreement had already ended with Singapore handing over the Pontian and Gunung Pulai reservoirs back to us in 2011," he said.

He said Johor would need help from the Federal Government in ensuring the state had enough water beyond 2018.

"We must meet the demand for water for development and the investment being poured into the area, especially for Johor Baru and Pasir Gudang.

"We have asked for an allocation of RM660mil (S$223 million) under the 11th Malaysia Plan to build a new dam at Sungai Ulu Sedili," he said.